Clothing dryer

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a clothing dryer comprising a drum in which a drying object is contained, an exhaust duct connected to the drum and exhausting air in the drum, a blowing fan mounted at an intermediate portion of the exhaust duct and configured to move air, a fan housing receiving the blowing fan and a cut-off bracket mounted in the fan housing. As bracket fixing means are formed at the fan housing so as to prevent one end of the cut-off bracket from coming into contact with the blowing fan, it is capable of mounting the fan housing at its original position even though the cut-off bracket is thermally deformed and of preventing air volume from decreasing.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priority Korean Application No. 10-2007-0103716, filed on Oct. 15, 2007, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a clothing dryer, and particularly, to a clothing dryer having a fan housing provided with bracket fixing means for preventing one end of a cut-off bracket mounted in the fan housing from coming into contact with a blowing fan so as to increase air volume of hot air passing through the fan housing for exhausting out the hot air in a drum.

2. Background of the Invention

A clothing dryer serves to dry an object to be dried or a drying object by evaporating moisture contained in the drying object resulting from supplying hot air into a drum.

FIG. 1 is a front section view showing a clothing dryer in the related art, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially showing a blowing fan and a fan housing applied to the clothing dryer of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the related clothing dryer 1 generally includes a cylindrical drum 11, an air intake duct 17 in which a heater 18 for supplying hot air into the drum 11 and a heater case 19 are installed, an exhaust duct 24 for exhausting out the air in the drum 11 containing much moisture having been evaporated from a drying object and a driving motor 40 for rotating the drum 11.

And, a blowing fan 22 generating a flowing force is installed in the clothing dryer 1 so as to exhaust air through the exhaust duct 24. The blowing fan 22 is simultaneously operated together with the drum 11 by the driving motor 40. One end portion of a driving shaft 29 of the driving motor 40 is directly connected to the blowing fan 22 and another end portion thereof is connected to a belt 28 encompassing the drum 11.

Here, a motor bracket 27 is installed below the driving motor 40 so as to support both end portions of the driving motor 40 in back and forth directions with being fixed at a lower surface of the clothing dryer 1.

An idler 13 is installed at one side of the motor bracket 27 so as to maintain a tension of the belt 28 while the drum 11 is operated.

Meanwhile, the blowing fan 22 is received in a fan housing 23.

The exhaust duct 24 communicated toward the outside of the clothing dryer 1 is connected to a rear side of the fan housing 23 so as to exhaust air blowing from the blowing fan 22 outside of the clothing dryer 1.

Here, the fan housing 23 consists of a front fan housing and a rear fan housing.

A cut-off bracket 31 is installed in the fan housing 23 so as to reduce noise and increase air volume. Here, in case that the fan housing 23 is formed of a plastic molding material, the cut-off bracket does not need to be additionally formed because a cut-off format can be formed in the fan housing 23 itself.

The fan housing formed of steel has been increasing. In this case, it is difficult to implement the cut-off format in the fan housing. In order to solve this drawback, the cut-off bracket 31 formed of the plastic molding material is additionally implemented and installed in the fan housing 23.

However, if hot-temperature air flowing in the fan housing 23 contacts the cut-off bracket 31 formed of the plastic molding material for a long time, the cut-off bracket 31 may be deformed by heat. And accordingly, the air volume passing through the fan housing 23 may decrease due to the thermal deformation of the cut-off bracket 31.

And, if the cut-off bracket 31 is thermally deformed, it may be detached from the fan housing 22 caused by difference in pressure generated by the blowing fan 22. Accordingly, it may be noisy because the cut-off bracket 31 contacts the blowing fan 22, and the blowing fan 22 or the cut-off bracket 31 may be damaged.

Further, in case that the cut-off bracket 31 is fixed at the fan housing 23, productivity may be deteriorated and a material cost may increase because an additional coupling member such as a screw is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a clothing dryer having a fan housing capable of minimizing reduction of air volume even though a cut-off bracket is thermally deformed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clothing dryer having a fan housing capable of preventing a cut-off bracket and the fan housing from contacting each other and being damaged by forming fixing means at the fan housing so as to fix one end of the cut-off bracket.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a clothing dryer capable of enhancing an assembly characteristic of a fan housing and reducing a material cost by forming coupling protrusions at a cut-off bracket and forming coupling holes corresponding thereto at the fan housing.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a clothing dryer comprising, a drum in which a drying object is contained, an exhaust duct connected to the drum and exhausting air in the drum, a blowing fan mounted at an intermediate portion of the exhaust duct and configured to move air, a fan housing receiving the blowing fan and a cut-off bracket mounted in the fan housing. The fan housing is provided with bracket fixing means so as to prevent one end of the cut-off bracket from contacting the blowing fan.

Here, the bracket fixing means are configured to lock both side ends of the cut-off bracket disposed below the blowing fan.

As the fixing means for fixing the cut-off bracket are formed at the fan housing, it is capable of preventing the cut-off bracket and the blowing fan from coming into contact with each other or from being damaged and of preventing air volume from decreasing.

Preferably, one of the bracket fixing means is protruded from an inner surface of the fan housing and the other is formed to be concaved in the inner surface of the fan housing. Here, the concaved bracket fixing means is formed at a front fan housing in a flange shape.

The fixing means protruded from the inner surface of the fan housing is formed by a forming manner.

Meanwhile, to achieve these objects of the present invention, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a clothing dryer comprising, a drum in which a drying object is contained, an exhaust duct connected to the drum and exhausting air in the drum, a blowing fan mounted at an intermediate portion of the exhaust duct and configured to move air, a fan housing receiving the blowing fan and a cut-off bracket mounted in the fan housing. Coupling protrusions are formed at the cut-off bracket contacting the fan housing.

Here, the fan housing may be further provided with coupling holes to which the coupling protrusions of the cut-off bracket are mounted.

The fan housing comprises a front housing and a rear housing. And, the front housing and the rear housing are coupled to each other by a hemming process.

Here, the coupling protrusions and the coupling holes are formed at the front fan housing side and the rear fan housing side forming the fan housing.

Accordingly, it is capable of mounting the cut-off bracket in the fan housing without using an additional coupling means such as a screw.

The coupling protrusions are formed at an outlet side of air passing through the blowing fan, preferably. That is, the coupling protrusions mounted at the front fan housing are formed at a portion distant from the blowing fan in the cut-off bracket.

Here, the fan housing is formed of steel and the cut-off bracket is formed of a plastic molding material, preferably. That is, in case that it is difficult to implement a cut-off format in the steel fan housing, it may be more effective that a cut-off bracket is additionally formed using a molding material and mounted in the fan housing so as to increase the productivity.

Alternately, all of the fan housing and the cut-off bracket may be formed of steel. That is, the cut-off format may be implemented in the steel fan housing itself.

As one embodiment regarding a method for mounting the cut-off bracket in the fan housing, the cut-off bracket may be mounted using fixing means formed at both side ends of the cut-off bracket disposed below the blowing fan. And, one of the fixing means is protruded from the inner surface of the fan housing and the other is formed to be concaved in the inner surface. As another embodiment regarding a method for mounting the cut-off bracket in the fan housing, coupling holes into which coupling protrusions of the cut-off bracket are inserted are formed at the fan housing, accordingly the cut-off bracket may be mounted in the fan housing using the coupling protrusions and the coupling holes.

According to the present invention, the fan housing may be mounted at its original position even though the cut-off bracket is thermally deformed, accordingly it is capable of preventing air volume from decreasing.

And, according to the present invention, it is capable of preventing one end of the cut-off bracket disposed at an inlet side of the blowing fan from rising toward the blowing fan by using the bracket fixing means formed at the fan housing, thereby preventing the cut-off bracket and the fan housing from coming into contact with each other and from being damaged.

Further, according to the present invention, the coupling protrusions formed at the cut-off bracket are coupled to the coupling holes formed at the fan housing, accordingly it is capable of easily assembling the fan housing and of enhancing the productivity. And, since an additional coupling means is not required, it is capable of reducing a material cost.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front section view showing a clothing dryer in the related art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially showing a blowing fan and a fan housing adapted to the clothing dryer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view showing that a cut-off bracket is mounted in a fan housing in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the cut-off bracket is mounted in the fan housing of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a right edge portion in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing that a cut-off bracket is mounted in a rear fan housing in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing that the cut-off bracket is mounted in a front fan housing of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an inside of the fan housing of FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views showing the cut-bracket of FIG. 6, in which FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the cut-off bracket at a viewing angle that the front fan housing is mounted, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the cut-off bracket at a viewing angle that the rear fan housing is mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Description will now be given in detail of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are provided to the same parts of this preferred embodiment as those of other preferred embodiments, and thus their detailed explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a section view showing that a cut-off bracket is mounted in a fan Is housing in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing that the cut-off bracket is mounted in the fan housing of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a right edge portion in FIG. 3.

The clothing dryer 1 in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention includes the drum 11 in which a drying object is contained, the exhaust duct 24 connected to the drum 11 and exhausting air in the drum 11, the blowing fan 22 mounted at an intermediate portion of the exhaust duct 24 and configured to move air, a fan housing 110, 120 receiving the blowing fan 22 and a cut-off bracket 130 mounted in the fan housing 110, 120. Bracket fixing means 111, 121 are respectively formed in the fan housing 110, 120 so as to prevent one end 131 of the cut-off bracket 130 from coming into contact with the blowing fan 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fan housing 110, 120 consists of a front fan housing 110 and a rear fan housing 120. Here, the front fan housing 110 and the rear fan housing 120 have sections approximately in a “

” shape. Hemming coupling parts 112, 122 are formed at a portion where the front fan housing 111 and the rear fan housing 120 come in contact with each other so as to couple them each other.

The hemming coupling parts 112, 122 serves to execute a hemming process and protruded toward lower portions of the front fan housing 110 and the rear fan housing 120. But, in case that the fan housing is formed to be integrated with the cut-off bracket, it may be not required to distinguish the fan housing into the front fan housing and the rear fan housing and to form the hemming coupling parts for the fan housing.

The bracket fixing means 111, 121 are configured to lock both side ends of the one end 131 of the cut-off bracket 130 disposed at the lower portion of the blowing fan 22. That is, the bracket fixing means 111, 121 are respectively formed at each inner surface of the front fan housing 110 and the rear fan housing 120 so as to prevent the both side ends of the one end 131 of the cut-off bracket 130 mounted on a flat portion formed by contacting the front fan housing 110 and the rear fan housing 120 with each other from being upwardly bent.

Here, the bracket fixing means 111, 121 are formed at at least one of the front fan housing 110 and the rear fan housing 120.

As the bracket fixing means 111, 121 for fixing the cut-off bracket 130 are formed in the fan housing 110, 120, it is capable of preventing the cut-off bracket 130 and the blowing fan 22 from contacting each other or from being damaged, and of preventing the air volume from decreasing resulting from that the cut-off bracket 130 leaves its position.

In the fan housing 110, 120, a connection portion of a cylindrical portion where the blowing fan 22 is disposed and a linear portion to which the exhaust duct is connected is called as a cutoff part, in which a pressure of discharged liquid is changed from a dynamic pressure to a static pressure. The cutoff part may be integrated with the fan housing 110, 120, but it can be implemented as an additional cut-off bracket 130 as the present invention.

The cut-off bracket 130 serves to increase the air volume passing through the fan housing 110,120 and to reduce the noise.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, one of the bracket fixing means 111, 121 is protruded from an inner surface of the fan housing 110, 120 and the other is formed to be concaved in the inner surface of the housing 120. The concaved bracket fixing means 111 is formed at the front fan housing 110 in a groove shape, and the bracket fixing means 121 protruded from the inner surface of the fan housing 110, 120 is formed at the rear fan housing 120 in a shape protruded toward the inside of the fan housing 110, 120.

The bracket fixing means 121 protruded toward the inside of the fan housing 110, 120 from the inner surface of the rear fan housing 120 is formed by a forming or a hydroforming manner.

And, the bracket fixing means 111 formed to be concaved in the inner surface of the front fan housing 110 may be formed to have a constant length along a side surface of the cut-off bracket 130.

As the one end 131 of the cut-off bracket 130 is fixed at the front fan housing 110 or the rear fan housing 120 by the bracket fixing means 111, 121, it is capable of preventing the cut-off bracket 130 from leaving an initially-mounted position even though the cut-off bracket 130 is thermally deformed and of preventing the one end 131 of the cut-off bracket 130 from rising toward the blowing fan 22 due to difference in the pressure caused by the blowing fan 22.

Hereafter, a cut-off bracket and a rear fan housing in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing that the cut-off bracket is mounted in the rear fan housing in accordance with the another embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing that the cut-off bracket is mounted in the front fan housing of FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a cut-off bracket 230 is mounted in a fan housing 210, 220 in accordance with the another embodiment of the present invention, and coupling protrusions 232, 233 are formed on one side surface of the cut-off bracket 230 contacting the fan housing 210, 220.

Here, it is advantageous that the fan housing 210, 220 consist of a front fan housing 210 and a rear fan housing 220 in an assembly aspect. However, when it is possible to form the fan housing to be integrated with the cut-off bracket, it is not required to distinguish the fan housing into the front fan housing and the rear fan housing.

As the coupling protrusions 232, 233 are formed only at the cut-off bracket 230 and the front fan housing 210 and the rear fan housing 220 are coupled by the hemming process, the front and rear fan housings 210, 220 press the coupling protrusions 232, 233. And accordingly, it is capable of fixing the front fan housing 210, the rear fan housing 220 and the cut-off bracket 230 with being coupled to each other.

Further, coupling holes 216 may be further formed so that the coupling protrusions 232, 233 of the cut-off bracket 230 may be inserted into the front fan housing 210 or the rear fan housing 220.

With such configuration, it is capable of mounting the cut-off bracket 230 in the fan housing 210, 220 without using an additional coupling means such as the screw.

Preferably, the coupling protrusions 232 inserted into the coupling holes of the front fan housing 210 are formed at an outlet side (B) of air. That is, the coupling protrusions 232 are formed at a portion distant from the blowing fan 22 in the cut-off bracket 230 or at a portion of the linear type fan housing 210, 220 at which an exhaust duct connection opening 223 is formed.

In the every side surface of the cut-off bracket 230 in which the coupling protrusions 232 coupled to the front fan housing 210 are formed, the cut-off bracket 230 disposed at the lower portion of the blowing fan 22 is not required to be provided with an additional coupling protrusion. Because, when the bracket fixing means (see FIG. 5) is formed at the front fan housing 210, it is capable of obtaining a coupling force of the cut-off bracket 230.

Referring to FIG. 7, unlike the coupling protrusions 232 mounted at the front fan housing 210, the coupling protrusions 233 mounted at the rear fan housing 220 are formed both at a portion close to a fan mounting hole 215 of the front fan housing 210 and at a portion close to the exhaust duct coupling hole 223.

That's because a side surface of the cut-off bracket 230 contacting the rear fan housing 220 is relatively shorter than that of the cut-off bracket 230 contacting the front fan housing 210 and there is no a portion of the cut-off bracket 230 located at the lower portion of blowing fan 22.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an inside of the front fan housing of FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, the coupling holes 216 are formed in the front fan housing 210 so as to insert the coupling protrusions 232 thereinto.

Hereafter, the cut-off bracket 230 will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views respectively showing the cut-off bracket of FIG. 6, in which FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the cut-off bracket at a viewing angle that the front fan housing is mounted and FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the cut-off bracket at a viewing angle that the rear fan housing is mounted.

Referring to FIG. 9, the coupling protrusions 232 are not formed at one side portion of the cut-off bracket 230 disposed at the lower portion of the blowing fan 22. That is, the coupling protrusions 232 are formed only at one portion of each side surface of the cut-off bracket 230 formed in a “

” shape when it is 15 viewed at a side of the front fan housing 210.

Preferably, a portion where the coupling protrusions 232 are formed have a width broader than other portions so as to obtain a space for the coupling protrusions 232.

Referring to FIG. 10, the coupling protrusions 233 mounted at the rear fan housing 220 are formed at all of the side surfaces of the cut-off bracket 230 formed in the “

” shape when it is viewed at a side of the rear fan housing 220.

A process for assembling the fan housing 210, 220 and the cut-off bracket 230 to each other in accordance with the another embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

First, the coupling protrusions 232, 233 of the cut-off bracket 230 are inserted into the coupling holes formed at one of the front fan housing 210 and the rear fan housing 220 so as to locate the cut-off bracket 230 at its initial position.

Then, the coupling protrusions of the cut-off bracket 230 are inserted into the coupling holes formed at the other fan housing so as to match contact portions of the front fan housing 210 and the rear fan housing 220 with each other. In this state, the hemming coupling parts (see FIG. 3) formed at the portion where the front fan housing 210 and the rear fan housing 220 come into contact with each other are hemmed, accordingly the assembly process for the front fan housing 210, the rear fan housing 220 and the cut-off bracket 230 is completed.

As such, since the additional coupling means such as the screw is not required for the process in which the coupling protrusions 232, 233 are formed at the cut-off bracket 230, the coupling holes 216 are formed at the front fan housing 210 and the rear fan housing 220 to correspond to the coupling protrusions 232, 233, and the fan housing 210, 220 is assembled by the hemming process, it is capable of enhancing an assembly characteristic of the fan housing and of reducing a material cost.

The aforementioned front fan housing 110, 210 and the rear fan housing 120, 220 are formed of steel and the cut-off brackets 130, 230 are formed of a plastic molding material, preferably. That is, in case that it is difficult to implement the cut-off format in the steel fan housing, it may be more effective that a cut-off bracket is additionally formed using a molding material and mounted in the fan housing so as to increase the productivity. As the case, all of the fan housing and the cut-off bracket may be formed of steel.

The clothing dryer having the fan housing provided with the cut-off bracket may be applied to both an exhausting type dryer and a condensing type dryer.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments.

As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. 

1. A clothing dryer comprising: a drum in which a drying object is contained; an exhaust duct connected to the drum and exhausting air in the drum; a blowing fan mounted at an intermediate portion of the exhaust duct and configured to move air; a fan housing receiving the blowing fan and a cut-off bracket mounted in the fan housing, wherein the fan housing is provided with bracket fixing means so as to prevent one end of the cut-off bracket from contacting the blowing fan.
 2. The clothing dryer of claim 1, wherein the bracket fixing means are configured to fix both side ends of the cut-off bracket disposed below the blowing fan.
 3. The clothing dryer of claim 2, wherein one of the bracket fixing means is protruded from an inner surface of the fan housing and the other is formed to be concaved in the inner surface of the fan housing.
 4. The clothing dryer of claim 3, wherein the fixing means protruded from the inner surface of the fan housing is formed by a forming manner.
 5. A clothing dryer comprising: a drum in which a drying object is contained; an exhaust duct connected to the drum and exhausting air in the drum; a blowing fan mounted at an intermediate portion of the exhaust duct and configured to move air; a fan housing receiving the blowing fan; and a cut-off bracket mounted in the fan housing, wherein coupling protrusions are formed at the cut-off bracket contacting the fan housing.
 6. The clothing dryer of claim 5, wherein the fan housing is provided with coupling holes into which the coupling protrusions of the cut-off bracket are inserted.
 7. The clothing dryer of claim 1, wherein the fan housing is formed of steel.
 8. The clothing dryer of claim 7, wherein the cut-off bracket is formed of a plastic molding material.
 9. The clothing dryer of claim 7, wherein the fan housing comprises a front housing and a rear housing, and the front housing and the rear housing are coupled to each other by a hemming process.
 10. The clothing dryer of claim 6, wherein the fan housing and the cut-off bracket are formed of steel. 